Family,
Youth & Consumer News

Prevent child
abduction with knowledge, planning

By
Keryn Page

MISSISSIPPI
STATE -- Experts recommend teaching safety skills and
instilling confidence in children to prevent a parent's
worst nightmare from becoming tragic reality.

Patsilu
Reeves, a Mississippi State University Extension Service
family life education specialist, said parents need to be
aware of predators' most commonly used tricks and teach
their children not to fall for them.

"While
it's important to take every possible measure to protect our
children, we should avoid frightening them unnecessarily. We
can have rules that ensure their safety without making them
afraid," Reeves said.

Reeves
advised against leaving children at home alone, regardless
of their age. However, if parents have no other option, they
should teach children appropriate home-alone
rules.

"There
are obvious signs -- such as house keys attached to neck
bands or bracelets -- that tell would-be child predators a
child is going to be home alone," she said. "Teach children
not to tell anyone they will be home alone and to keep house
keys out of sight."

Children
should not wear personalized clothing or backpacks because a
predator could call out their name and confuse the
child.

Teach
children never to go with a stranger who asks them to come
see a pet or offers them candy, video games or any other
items that might tempt the child. Children should be taught
that adults ask other adults, not children, for help or
directions.

"Another
common predator trick is to tell a child their parent has
been involved in an accident and they will take them to see
that parent. Parents and children should have a secret code
word, and children should know never to go anywhere with a
person unless they know that code word," Reeves said. "It is
better for the parent to call the principal's or daycare
center director's office and give the name and a description
of who will be picking up the child."

For
older children, Reeves cautioned against allowing children
to sell items door-to-door or go for job interviews unless
accompanied by a parent.

"If a
child is grabbed by a stranger, teach them to kick, scream
and yell, 'This is not my parent!'" she said.

"Although
we always think about young children, the prime targets for
abduction are 10- to 13-year-olds. Parents need to warn
teens not to get in a car with someone they don't know,"
Reeves said. "They should use the buddy system and stay in
groups when in places such as a mall. All teens, and
especially girls, need to be wary of people offering to make
them models or stars."

The
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children offers
several tips for parents to help ensure children's safety.
These include:

Children
should always check first with a parent or trusted adult
before they go anywhere, accept anything or get into a
car with anyone. This rule also applies to older
children.

Children
should not go out alone and should always take a friend
with them when they go places or play
outside.

Teach
children they can say no if someone tries to touch them
or treats them in a way that makes them feel scared,
uncomfortable or confused, and to get out of these
situation as quickly as possible.

Teach
children they can tell a parent or trusted adult if they
feel scared, uncomfortable or confused.

Children
need to know that there will always be someone to help
them, and they have the right to be safe.

The
U.S. Department of Justice recommends parents keep a
complete description of their child, recent color
photographs, copies of the child's fingerprints and a sample
of the child's DNA. Keep regularly updated records of the
child's height, weight and hair color along with any
distinguishing marks. In addition, know where the child's
medical records are located, and have a dentist prepare and
maintain dental charts for the child.

In
case a child is missing, the department offers the following
steps for parents to take:

Immediately
report the missing child to the local law enforcement
agency.

Ask
the law enforcement agency to enter the child into the
National Crime Information Center Missing Persons
File.

Limit
access to the home until law enforcement officers arrive
and have the opportunity to collect possible
evidence.

Give
law enforcement investigators all available information
about the child, including fingerprints, photographs and
a complete description, and the facts and circumstances
related to the disappearance.